Shimla/Keylong: In a dare-devil display of bravery, an IAF aircraft rescued seven trekkers at the snow-bound ChandraTaal, a glacial lake at 4100 m high in Lahaul-Spiti’s sky-rocketing Chandra-Bhagha mountains surpassing 18000-20,000 ft altitude. The team led by Jagat Negi has reached out to the stranded Tourists at 2.AM demonstrating an exemplary courage and survival instincts that brought a massive relief to the stranded tourists there.
Despite adverse weather conditions, the aircraft landed a few meters above the tent colony pitched at head of the snow-covered Chandrataal Lake, lifting the sick trekkers back to safety at Bhuntar airport.
On the other hand, rescue team led by Jagat Negi and Sanjay Awashti reached the Chanderatl at 2 AM and as many as 60 tourists have been evacuated from the ChendraTal by road and launched the snow clearing opertaion to restore Batal and Chandrataal slushy road.
Others are being rescued by road from there, confirmed, CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, who is camping in Kullu to oversee the rescue operation.
Earlier, IAF has airlifted eight elderly, women and children tourists from Chandertaal, but has refused to repeat the sorties due to lack of heliport nearby.
Indian Air Force (IAF) has stepped up to assist in the rescue efforts by offering to deploy CH-47 Chinook helicopters.
These helicopters will transport necessary equipment, such as excavators, to the Chandertal area in order to restore the road from Chandratal to Batal and Kunjam Pass-Losar-Kaza and towards Chatru and Gramhu sides to Koksar.
Over the past four days, more than 60,000 tourists have been evacuated from various locations in Himachal Pradesh. However, over 2500 tourists in ChandraTaal and 10,000 others remain stranded in popular tourist spots such as Kasol, Manikaran, Tosh, Kulga, Pulga, Gheerganga, and Tirthan Valley. These stranded tourists in Chandrataal face challenging conditions, with heavy snowfall of to two three feet.
However, the situation is further complicated by the weather forecast, as the IMD center in Shimla and the NDMA have predicted heavy rains in Himachal Pradesh for the next five days starting from June 13. This forecast poses a major concern for the state and central government, as they work to rescue over 2,500 people living in precarious and freezing conditions.
The evacuation of a large number of stranded tourists is proving difficult due to slush and raging torrents of Nalas that have breached the Chandra Taal Batal Road, located 12 to 15 kilometers from the main Batal Kunjum Kaza and Samdho Highway.
In other side of Rohtang Range, rescue operations are ongoing, with the state authorities coordinating efforts to rescue the stranded tourists located in Tirthan, Manikaran, Kasol, Tosh, Kulga, and Pulga areas of the Parbati Valley.
Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Sukhu has expressed his appreciation for the IAF's exceptional efforts in rescuing the sick individuals from the Chandra Taal Lake despite adverse weather conditions. The rescue team has showcased remarkable skill and dedication throughout the operation.
Meanwhile, additional rescue operations are underway, focusing on the road damage in Kasol and Thirthan Valley. The HP State Disaster Management Authority and district administration have deployed HRTC buses to transport stranded tourists back to the main national highway between Manali-Mandi-Chandigarh.
As of now, a total of 60,000 stranded tourists have been evacuated from Himachal Pradesh for the last three days till 9 am on June 13.
Chief Minister himself is personally overseeing the rescue operation in Kulu, Mandi and Lahaul-Spiti, , which have been severely impacted by flash floods and heavy rainfall over the past five days.
Efforts to restore the snowbound Kazakh and Batal Highway are also in progress, led by the Horticulture Minister, Kinnaur Legislature Jagat Negi, and CPS Sanjay Awasthi as they had reached out to the tourists armed with ration and food itmes and equipment.
